Fish handling and scaling clamp



Feb. 23, 194-3. 5 HAISUP 2,312,160

FISH HANDLING AND SCALING CLAMP Filed Dec. 26, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A iiomey In ventor Patented Feb. 23, 1943 UNITED STATES F FICE FISH. HA DLING AND CLAMP AlbertS; Haislip, Frederick-sburg; Va.

Application-December 26, 134.0; Serial No, 37 ,769

(01. I7jl).

Claims The present invention relates to an improved article clamping and holding device which is especially, but not necessarily, constructed and deslgned'toefi'ectively hold and anchor a fishin a manner to facilitate convenient and sate handling: while scaling andbutchering' the same.

In carrying the invention into practical efiect, I have evolved and produced a novel double jaw structureso made as to expedite-and promote its use inthehome, in a fish-market, on a fish pier or wharf, or wherever else it may be needed for expedient and eflicient results.

Being generally familiar with anglers acces series andequipment, including marketed and patented fish clamps andholders, I- amaware of what has been done along this reasonably welldeveloped line by my predecessors. It is therefore my judgment that, in reducing my invention to actual practice, I havedesigned and perfected an ingenious clamp construction possessed of appreciable distinctions and novelty in that it is characterized by correctly proportioned and structurally fashioned grappling jaws, these being pivotally interconnected and coacting with an intervening projectable and retractable lock unit somewhat in the nature of a chock, whereby to provide a well chosen combination and arrangement of parts admirably well adapted to satisfactoril achieve the desired results.

As-isevident from the preceding observations, one phase of the invention has to do with the specific constructionand' arrangement of the parts forming the jaw unit, the arrangement being such that the jaws are pivotally connected with each other atpoints intermediate their ends, the fish engaging and clamping ends thereofbeing made with matching and abutting teeth, these being adapted to imbed themselves in the fish, and the opposite ends of the jaws being flat and straight across in transverse dimension and the coacting features being such that the jaws proper, assume planes of strict parallel relationship when swungto closed fish clamping positions.

More specifically, additional novelty is predicatedupon theadoption and, use of aslide in the form of' a yoke, this being of a projecta-ble and retractable type and interposed between the jaws andslidably anchored on the hinge pin employed for assembling said jaws.

A further feature of construction has to do with the utilization of optional as well as alternative spring means so designed and arranged as to normally spread the jaws; apart and keep the same constantly under the influence of said spring means.

Other: featuresandv advantages of the, invention will; become morereadily apparentfrom the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings; wherein. like numerals are employed to designatelike mechanical parts throughout thesame:

Figurel is atop plan view of a. fish clamp constructed in accordance'with the principles of the present invention showing anchoring means associated therewith, said anchoring means being essentially adapted; for, engagement over the edge of atable, whereby to render this particular form. of. the invention adaptable for domestic, orhousehold use.

Figure-2 is aside elevational View of thestructure. illustratedin Figure 1:.

Fi ure; 3: is, a front; end, elevation showin the jaws in normal. op n posi o Figure ,4. is a central longitudinal sectionalview through, the structure seen in Figure 3 With parts.

inelevation.

Figure 5. is a perspective view of the so-called, chock formingslide or look.

FigureGisa View similar to Figure 1 showing a modification of the invention, this particular style of the device being adapted for use on a scalingv block. or bench such as employed in a fish market or the like.

Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view taken onthe line I;- .1 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 isaperspective view, similar to Figure 5, but showing the jaw: opening spring mounted on the slide to constitute a part thereof.

By way of introduction to the detailed descriptionit istobe pointed out thatalthough there-isv a diiierencebetween the anchoring means shown in Figures. land 61 as modifications, the principal distinction. between the two modifications is the optional: or alternative spring means employed ondifferent occasions. Since the jaw unit and the slide means are the-same in both embodiments, the partswill be identified by corresponding reference numerals.

Tofacilitate achievementof the foregoing pur- Doses attention is first called to Figures 1 to 5 inclusive. The clamp or jaw unit is made up of a pair of. substantially duplicate companion jaws 9 and iii, respectively. The jaws are of appropriate sheet metal: or equivalent material and each jaw includes a. flat plate-like portion l I, said parts I I having flanges l2 and I3, respectively, and the flanges I3 being offset as at M to permit the flanges I 2 to fold or nest together in proper telescoping relationship. The outer free swingabl'e ends of the jaws are provided with transverse serrated flanges, the serrations forming biting teeth l5 and [6. It is to be observed that the teeth are in alinement with each other, that is, not staggered. Thus, they come together in matching point-to-point relationship as brought out to advantage in Figures 2 and '7. Thus constructed, the teeth become well embedded in the tail portion of the fish (not shown) but do not cut through, as would be the case if the teeth were staggered. A headed hinge pin I! held in place by a cotter key l8 serves to hingedly connect the jaws together. It is to be observed that the hinge connection is formed adjacent the butt ends of the jaws, said butt ends being denoted by the numerals l9. Inwardly of the ends I9 the plate portions are bulged outwardly in opposed parallelism as at the points 20 to provide clearance pockets for the slidable or projectable and retractable lock unit 2|. This part 2| is to be distinguished from a cam or wedge in that it is more in the nature of a non-compressible jaw spacer or chock. Specifically, the part 21 is a yoke formed of rigid bar or strap metal, the bight portion 22 being centrally apertured as at 23 and the limbs or arms 24 being provided with slots 25 through which the hinge pin extends. The slots are of predetermined length so as to limit the inward and outward sliding movements of the part 22 in relation to the hingedly connected aws.

A headed pin 23 has its head portion 21 swivelly anchored in the countersunk aperture 23, the shank being formed with detents or shoulders 23 functioning to properly assemble the parts. In the arrangement seen in Figure l, the eye 29 of the pin serves to accommodate a link 30 which is in turn connected with an eye 3| on an anchoring hook or equivalent member 32. The part 32 is expressly designed to engage over the edge of a table to securely anchor the clamp in place. The link 33 provides the desired flexibility and freedom of motion necessary in rotating or flopping the clamping means about on the table top, and the pin 26 provides the desired swivel action. Hence, all of the parts coordinate their conjoint functions in properly fastening the clamp on the table while allowing it to shift and swing laterally or sideways or to be bodily turned in an axial direction. This makes for secure anchorage of the fish and at the same time expedites the handling and turning operations for sealing and butchering purposes.

As before stated, the arrangement illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 is expressly adapted for use in a fish market. Here the bench or table is denoted by the numeral 33, this having a staple 34 forming a suitable anchor for the swivelled pin 23. The only other difference in the modification shown is the spring means. That is to say, in Figures 3 and 4 a coiled spring 35 surrounds the hinge pin and the free ends or limbs 36 and 31 bear outwardly against the inner faces of the plate portions H of the jaws. In Figures 7 and 8, instead of employing a coiled spring I utilize a U-shaped or substantially V-shaped spring. Here the flat limbs 38 and 39 engage the inner faces of the plate portions while the connective portion or bight 40 is connected to the bight portion of the yoke, the connection in this instance being made by the head of the same pin 26.

In both forms of the invention the spring means serves to normally spread the jaws apart. The spacing of the jaws is such as to facilitate placement of the tail of the fish therebetween.

Then the jaws are pressed together with the hands, forcing the teeth 15 and it into the flesh of the fish. When the points of the teeth l5 and 16 come together from this hand pressure, the aforementioned butt ends l3 swing into spaced parallelism. This make way for the outward sliding of the chock forming yoke means 2|. It is to be observed that there is no cam or wedge action. In other words, the yoke functions like a rigid spacer or chock, being simply interposed and frictionally lodged between the ends I9 and preventing said ends from swinging toward each other or allowing the jaws to open. It will be seen therefore, that the action of the device is simple. First close the jaws and press the teeth together against the tension of the spring and then, while holding the jaw unit, exert an endwise pull on the fish and the clamp as a unit, and thus slide the lock or yoke 2| between the ends I9. Then the fish is securely clamped in position for whatever activity is desired.

As before stated, the link 30 and hook 32 provide the desired flexibility of action of the clamping means when the device is secured on a table or the like. In Figures 6 and 7 the simple staple 34 provides an ideal anchor for the swivelled retention or pin means 23. In the arrangement in Figures 6 and '7 it is evident that when the scaling and butchering operation is completed, the jaws can be readily opened by simply exerting an endwise thrust of the fish and clamp as a unit in the direction of the anchoring staple 34. This shoves the yoke in and releases the jaws.

It is thought that the description taken in connection with the drawings will enable a clear understanding of the invention to be had. Therefore, a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that minor changes coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to if desired.

I claim:

1. A freely shiftable and axially turnable fish scaling and butchering clamp expressly proportioned and designed to effectively grip the tail portion of said fish without cutting through said tail portion comprising a pair of duplicate jaw units equal in length, said units being hingedly connected intermediate their ends by a cross-pin and arranged in superposed parallelism and the rear transverse endsbeing flat across and spaced apart to provide an unobstructed space, the opposite ends of said jaw units having matchable and aligned teeth whose points are adapted to meet and abut each other, and a slidable yoke interposed between said rear ends, the yoke being of a width commensurate with the width of the jaw units, the bight portion of the yoke coacting with the straight-across ends of the l units, and the arm portions being slidable between the longitudinal edge portions of the jaw units and slotted and slidably connected with the hinge pin.

2. A freely shiftable and axially turnable fish scaling and butchering clamp expressly proportioned and designed to. effectively grip the tail portion of a fish without cutting through said tail portion comprising a pair of duplicate jaw units equal in length, said units being hingedly connected intermediate their ends by a cross-pin and arranged in superposed parallelism and the rear transverse endsbeing fiat across and spaced apart to provide an unobstructed space, the opposite ends of said jaw units having matchable and aligned teeth whose tip portions are adapted to meet and abut each other, a slidable yoke interposed between said rear ends, the yoke being of a width commensurate with the width of the jaw units, the bight portion coacting with the flat across, rear transverse ends of the jaw units, the arm portions being slidable between the longitudinal edge portions of the jaw units and slotted and slidably connected with the hinge pin, together with an anchoring pin swivelly connected to the bight portion of the yoke, and spring means interposed between the jaw units to spread and hold the same normally spaced apart.

3. A freely shiftable and axially turnable fish scaling and butchering clamp expressly proportioned and designed to effectively grip the tail portion of a fish without cutting through said tail portion comprising a pair of duplicate jaw units equal in length, said units being hingedly connected intermediate their ends by a cross-pin and arranged in superposed parallelism and the rear transverse ends being flat across and spaced apart to provide an unobstructed space, the opposite ends of said jaw units having matchable and aligned teeth whose tip portions are adapted to meet and abut each other, a slidable yoke interposed between said rear ends, the yoke being of a width commensurate with the width of the jaw units, the bight portion coacting with the fiat across, rear transverse ends of the jaw units, the arm portions being slidable between the longitudinal edge portions of the jaw units and slotted and slidably connected with the hinge pin, together with an anchoring pin swivelly connected means being a U-shaped spring connected withsaid yoke and operable in conjunction therewith. 4. A fish scaling clamp comprising pivoted jaws, the forward ends of said jaws having teeth projecting inwardly and in alignment with one another, the pivot of the jaws being intermediate the ends thereof, a U-shaped chock having slots in the legs thereof, the pivot extending through the slots, said chock having upper and lower straight parallel edges, said jaws having inwardly facing opposed curved recesses, whereby, when the jaws are in position for pivotal movement, the parallel edges of the chock are positioned within the recesses and when the jaws are in clamping position, the parallel edges of the chock are in engagement with the rear outer edge portions of the jaw members outside the recesses, and means for moving said chock to and from operative position.

5. A fish scaling clamp comprising pivoted jaw members, the forward end of each jaw having teeth, the pivot of the jaws being intermediate the ends thereof, a chock formed of a flat piece of metal U-shaped in edge view and having a slot in each leg, the pivot extending through said slots, and the base of the U-shaped part resting between said jaw members at the end portions of said jaw members opposite their toothed ends, and means for moving said chock to operative position to hold the jaws closed.

ALBERT S. HAISLIP. 

